Price of Springfield Loaded in MD and warranty question

[nico]

Which Springfield 1911 and how much should I expect to pay (in MD)?

I've decided it's time for me to join the 1911 fraternity (at least in the next year or so), and have pretty much decided on one of the Springfield Loaded models (PX9154L or BX9151L). I'm pretty sure I want most (if not all) of the Loaded features and upgrading a Mil Spec to Loaded specs would more than make up for the difference in price between the guns. I was wondering what price I should expect to pay and how much I could save by buying a gently used gun (I don't want something that someone else has already worn out but I don't have unlimited funds either and am saving up for the gun).
Can anyone comment on how the "black stainless" finish looks? It looks pretty cool in the pictures, but I know it might be very different in person.
Also, what are some good shops in MD to check? I'd like to buy from the guys at On Target since I've been shooting there as long as I've been shooting and they're good people, but I also want to get a good deal.
Finally, what are the limits on Springfield's lifetime warranty? Obviously, they wouldn't warranty any aftermarket parts that I add to the gun, but would adding aftermarket parts completely void the warranty? What about using handloads (I don't reload now but plan to eventually)?

Any other suggestions are definitely welcome.

 

[Norton]

nico,

If it's the model that I'm thinking of, it should be around $750 or so.

On Targets prices, while usually high, are for some reason pretty much on the average when it comes to the Springfield products.

On Target couldn't get the Mil-Specs when I was looking for my wife's 1911, so I ended up going to Christian Soldier on Harford Rd......great guy, and his price was a little lower than others in the area.

There's also the new place in Annapolis.....The Armory.....I just got an STG58a from there and can highly recommend the place. Hal's a good guy.

I didn't notice if there were any 1911s....I'll check the next time I'm over there.

 

[45Badger]

Buy it online and ship it to Gunpowder Range (near Belair), home of the only $30 transfer I've seen in MD. Or have them order it for you. Friend of mine who used to live in in Belair saved big bucks there vs. all the other MD "$600 for a GI Milspec" shops.

Better yet, move to Pennsyltucky!

 

[nico]

Thanks for the replies.
Here are a couple links to the models I'm looking at: PX9154L
and PX9151L
And here are their descriptions.
They both have Novak sights. Their MSRPs are practically the same ($877 and $876 respectively) and the only difference I can see is the nicer (imo, from the pictures I've seen) finish on the first one and the ambi safety (which I don't need) on the second one.

What kind of pricetag should I look for if buying out of state? After paying ~$25 for shipping and $30 for the transfer would I really save all that much? Are there places other than gunbroker and auction arms (or good sellers to look for on either site) to look for a gun out of state?

Edit: Norton are you sure about that price? I could have sworn the last time I was over there looking at Kimbers Ed told me the Custom II was about $750.

 

[Norton]

nico,

Like I said...I may have the wrong model in my head, but it seems that I remember seeing a $750 Springfield over there. I didn't pursue those higher models because the wife had to have a Mil-Spec pistol to do her military pistol competitions

45badger......$600 for a Mil-Spec Christian Soldier had it for around $530.....OK price for MD

 

[nico]

ok, hopefully that was one of the more expensive models. There are other Loaded models that adjustable and/or night sights with MSRPs closer to, and above $1000.

btw, how does your wife like her Mil Spec? A friend (DelayedReaction) has one that I shot this past weekend that seems pretty nice, but it seems like if I did the modifications I think I'd want (longer trigger, beavertail grip safety, commander hammer), I'll more than make up for the difference in price.

 

[anapex]

I think if you bought a mil-spec and parts you wanted upgraded you should be able to put most of them in yourself using some of the great 1911 posts we have here. With the trigger, beaver tail, and hammer I think you'd still be way under the difference between a mil-spec and loaded. Plus you wouldn't have to deal with front slide serrations!

Oh and we have two mil-specs here that are doing great for my wife and I that we both love.

 

[nico]

Anapex, that brings up a few other things I was thinking about. Asside from the trigger, hammer, beavertail, safety (which isn't that big of a deal to me), sights, and mainspring housing (I've only shot guns with flat MSHs, so I'd give the curved one a shot before I replaced it), are there any other differences between the Mil-Spec and the loaded? Are Novak sights really that much better than the plain old 3 dot sights on the Mil-Spec (sights seem to be one of the more expensive modifications to make)? Does a commander hammer make a noticeable difference (I've assumed that since it's such a common modification, it must be at least partially worthwhile) over a regular hammer? The standard grips don't really matter either, since I really liked the Hogue wraparound grips on DelayedReaction's gun and would probably buy a set of them.

Assuming those are the only differences, can the beavertail, trigger, and (probably) hammer really be replaced for under the ~$170 difference in MSRP between the Mil-Spec and Loaded? Will doing those modifications void the warranty?

I kinda like the slide serrations on the Loaded better than the ones on the Mil Spec btw . And from the pictures I've seen of it, I really like the "black stainless" finish.

 

[nico]

anybody have any other suggestions?

I got to fondle a few 1911s (and see the black stainless finish) at On Target last night. There, the stainless Mil Spec was about $550 and the stainless Loaded was closer to $700. Just from handling them and feeling the triggers, I'm sure I'd want to replace at least the trigger, grip safety, and hammer on a Mil Spec, but I'm undecided on the mainspring housing, indifferent to the ambi safety, and didn't really notice a difference in sights.

I guess what I'm wondering now is how difficult would it be for me to install the trigger (I know the work required to install a beavertail, but what gunsmithing needs to be done to install a trigger?), grip safety, hammer, and flat mainspring housing, and how would doing those modifications on a Mil Spec affect Springfield's warranty? I haven't been able to find any warranty terms on their website and I'm sure there must be limits on the warranty.

 

[Norton]

nico,

My wife likes hers with the exception of the sights......she'll get those replaced soon. The armorer where she works lightened up the trigger a bit and she's shooting 90's at 50 ft.

 

[cstreu1026]

I bought a loaded springfield back in december. I went into the store with the expectation to buy a GI mil spec for $399. I looked at a lot of different 1911's including a Les Baer Thunder Ranch that I dearly loved. I made up my mind that I wanted stainless and they happened to have a loaded stainless model that was used. It was $50 more the the new stainless mil spec so that is what I bought. Sadly I have only fired 100 rounds through it, but those 100 rounds were GREAT! I looked that the black stainless model and it was very sharp looking. It too was on sale but sumstantially more than the gun I ened up purchasing.

 

[carnaby]

I have the same warranty questions as the original poster, but there was never any answers. Anyone?

 

[12many]

Nice

That model is also what I want some day. Very nice.

 

[Baphomet]

If you can afford the Loaded version, that would be my suggestion. Nothing wrong with the mil-specs but I'm willing to bet you won't mind having the "upgrades" the Loaded version brings with it. And the less work you have done, the fewer parts you swap out, the more likely your factory warranty is to remain valid.

The black stainless looks awesome. Jaw droppingly awesome, IMO. That picture doesn't BEGIN to do it proper justice.

I can't address the warranty issues, specifically. I've owned my Springy for almost seven years now and it has been nothing but hell-and-back reliable. It's never needed any kind of repair until last week when I decided to have the extractor checked for tension.

 

[carnaby]

I've got the black stainless. It does look nice, but it's the worst trigger I've ever used on a Springfield 1911. I replaced the hammer, sear and all that with the components from my TRP, which were replaced by Ed Brown stuff, which improved the situation significantly. I think I need a new sear/hammer spring thingy though, the trigger is still kinda crappy.